EOI for Local Artists - “Riverfest” River-themed Mural

Call for Local Artists: Design and Installation of “Riverfest” River-themed Mural

Project Background

Lismore City Council in partnership with Richmond Riverkeeper is seeking expressions of interest from visual artists to design and deliver a public mural on the levee wall near the Ballina Street Bridge in Lismore. The mural will celebrate the Wilson River and inspire collective responsibility for its care under the theme:

“We Can All Be Riverkeepers.”

This project is part of Richmond RiverFest 2025 and will be delivered in partnership with Lismore City Council, local community groups, and schools. The Riverfest will run events across the Richmond River catchment from 28 September 2025 to 26 October 2025. A festival closing event is to be held on 26^th October at the Riverside Park in Lismore.

A public-facing large-scale Mural (the project) is proposed to be installed at a site along the flood levee wall close to Riverside Park. The location for the project is a 30-40m length of levee wall east facing at Victoria St adjacent to Ballina St bridge.

Figure 1. Focus site for River themed mural project.

Commissioning Artist Brief

1. Theme

We Can All Be Riverkeepers is a call to action. The mural should reflect the diverse communities who lives with and along the Wilson River, including:

• Bundjalung custodianship
• Environmental restoration and care
• Intergenerational responsibility
• Connection to water, community, and Country

Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme creatively and visually in a way that is inclusive, bold, and community focused.

2. Site Details - Victoria St Levee

The section of levee wall is in a prominent position facing east. The section of levee is subject to high public visibility. It is located at Victoria street on the edge of the Lismore CBD, alongside Ballina St adjacent to the Ballina St bridge over the Wilson’s River.

The levee wall in this section contains some graffiti tags but does not represent the graffiti style art present along other sections of the levee. The project aims to honour the styles of public art present in Lismore, and contribute to a shift in community acceptance of visually engaging, skillfully designed and modern public art.

Location: Levee wall at 21 Victoria St, near Ballina Street Bridge, Lismore NSW
Wall surface: Painted concrete, previously used for murals
Size: Total wall section length is 45m x 2.5m (approx.). Length of proposed mural to be confirmed through site visit
Visibility: High foot and vehicle traffic area, prominent public location

Site Preparation: Lismore City Council will arrange site preparation in the form of mowing and brush cutting to remove vegetation and provide hot wash of the wall prior to installation. The artist will liaise with Council staff to confirm specifications

3. Scope of works - Artist Responsibilities

The Successful selected artist will provide:

• A concept design based on the theme and engagement inputs
• Overseeing and coordinating the production of their finalised artwork in collaboration with Lismore City Council, Richmond Riverkeeper and key partners
• Lead the delivery of the mural on site during the month of October 2025
• Provide materials and tools required to complete the project
• Any indigenous imagery or iconography will require evidenced (preferably written) Elder or local knowledge holder support.
• Artists will need to consider temporary options for access to power, water and any scaffolding or ladders required to access the site
• Ensure safe work practices and manage any subcontractors
• Provide digital imagery of the final work for archival and promotional use

• Provide a project and artist description for use in digital record and link to the artwork. Work with the project sponsors to create a QR Code to include in the site design

4. Timeline

5. Budget

An artist fee of $5,500 (inclusive of design, labour, and GST) is available. Materials and equipment will be provided or reimbursed up to $1,500.

6. Artwork Duration

The finished artwork is expected to be a permanent display, erected within an open environment. Artwork materials will be at the artist’s discretion; however, they must prove that the artwork can withstand the open environment, including the risk of vandalism, sun- bleaching, rain, graffiti, etc.

All artworks will be under the ownership of the Asset owner (Rous County Council) and may at any time in the future be removed for repairs, cleaning, to replace them with new pieces, or any other requirement. All attempts will be made to contact the artist.

7. Cultural Content

Activities that involve First Nations content will require evidence of appropriate consultation/agreement with the Widjabul Wia-bal people of the Bundjalung nation.

8. Legal Requirements

Successful artists must enter a Commissioning Agreement with Lismore City Council, including scope, roles, and responsibilities.

Application Process

Stage1:

Artists and collectives are invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI) via an online submission form, which will include the following:

• Artist CV: Including postal address and contact details. Maximum 2 pages.
• Examples of Previous Work: up to 3 examples of previous work – i.e. images (up to 10mb total), and hyperlinks to digital platforms.
• Ideas and Concepts for Riverkeeper Mural: Share your ideas and concepts and how it aligns with given theme.
• Indicative budget, including at least 20% contingency.

Stage 2:

One or more artists may be selected to develop their ideas and concepts. The development must include refined drawings, technical plans and specifications and detailed cost estimates.

The selected artist/s will be provided with a $500 (ex GST) artwork development fee to develop their concepts.

Stage 3:

One artist or a collaborative group will be chosen to complete their selected artworks at the agreed cost estimates. The successful artist is expected to be available at the site on Sunday 26^th October as part of the Riverfest program.

For application support or any questions regarding the program, please contact:

Contact Details:

For all site inspections and project enquiries Contact: Kristen Denexter

Telephone: 04 1422 3139

Email: richmondriverkeeper@gmail.com

For liaison with Council staff contact: Kate Steel

Telephone number: 02 6625 0435

Email: kate.steel@lismore.nsw.gov.au

Applications close 31 August 2025 4:30pm.

Annexure 1 - Existing Site Conditions

Shortlisting Selection Process

A panel of 2 Richmond Riverkeeper community group members and 1 Council staff will assess the EOI applications in response to the selection criteria outlined below.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application privately, by the 7 September 2025.

If you are a local artist with a passion for storytelling through art, we invite you to submit your expression of interest to design and deliver this river-themed mural.

Applications close 31 August 2025 4:30pm.